"Shop Vac" is a song on Jonathan Coulton's fourth album Thing a Week One. A fan favorite, the song is JoCo's commentary on suburban life. It tells the story of a depressing middle class family as they slink deeper and deeper into the soulless, unsatisfying existence of their bland, suburban lifestyle. The chorus describes the man of the house retreating to his basement, where his Shop Vac drowns out the noise of the world.

Live performance

"Shop Vac" is played somewhat regularly at Jonathan Coulton concerts. Depending on the location of the concert, Jonathan will alternatively explain or bemoan the existence of suburbs.

The solo is invariably omitted when the song is played live, but is otherwise an acoustic version of the recorded track.

Trivia

The radio in the background near the end of the studio version appears to be saying the following (credit for this discovery to Blimix):

"... the case of two men who have come up with an idea for ads reaching a captive audience. The ads can now be seen inside public bathroom stalls. 'It may seem silly,' says..."

"A forty-nine-year-old, unidentified man went berserk last night, opening fire with a twelve-gauge shotgun in a crowded, downtown..."

Jonathan's comments in his blog about these lines: "The newscast is a segment about ads above urinals, and then another about a guy going nuts with a shotgun. It felt a little goofy to drop that in there, but it also gave me chills, so I kept it."

The second sound clip can be heard in the diner in the 2005 game Indigo Prophecy.

The sound sample originates with New Power Generation's track "Segue (IV)," from their 1995 album Exodus. These samples were used in Megadeth's "The Scorpion," the Spin Doctors' "What Time Is It," and Chamillionaire's "The Morning News," in addition to the Fenslerfilm GI Joe parody short Israeli Jet Fighters.

Availability

Downloads

"Shop Vac" is available for purchase in the Jonathan Coulton MP3 Store as an individual track or as part of Thing a Week I. Of course, this song is also included as part of the "Everything" playlist.